When you see a statue of the laughing Buddha, look at the language of the body. The big chi belly, the exaggerated dan-tien the full smile that he possesses. It's not a superficial smile, the whole body smiles...despite the world around him. Why? What is so damn funny?
I got to see my daughter achieve the deep smile. On Friday a young man, who despite hearing about the maiden's over protective father (ahem) asked her to be his girlfriend. This is her first boyfriend and she is 13 almost 14.
She radiated joy. Her smile was so deep and precocious, so powerful and infectious, I could not help but to share in her overwhelming, nervous, butterfly filled, giddiness.
She's gonna kill me when she reads this. That makes me smile.
What's so damn funny, the truth beneath the perceived experience of life! The light that is amidst the experience of, "How am I gonna get through this?" The perfection of each and every moment that become apparent to you when connect your spirit to it in oneness.
Despite the trying times and burdens of adulthood, we must begin to practice the inward smile. Like all practice of Combat Yoga (read: Predicament) if you can smile with your whole being, if you can laugh out loud at the absurdity of the stress and chortle and guffaw at the dizzy scramble that surrounds us all, if you can touch the smile even then... when times are calm and gentle, your smile will be perfected.
So practice now. Practice when the dragons are out of their caves. Practice when the chips are down. Practice when there is nothing left to do but fret.
HOW to practice:
1. Listen to/watch comedies.
2. Listen to tapes of people laughing
3. Go to YouTube and put in, "Laughing Baby" I dare you to not laugh.
But most of all, be conscious when you begin to choose anything but a smile in the face of conflict. Recognize that you are choosing and follow the path of that choice inward until you find the deep trauma, the old hurt, the baggage, the story, the crap, the wound...
...and then just smile. Even a smirk counts.
The Kids Warrior Camp dates for North America are:
June 24-27 in Colorado. To register or learn more go to:
http://www.firemountainprograms.com
There's a movie there that will make you smile.
To your laughter,
Aaron
I got to see my daughter achieve the deep smile. On Friday a young man, who despite hearing about the maiden's over protective father (ahem) asked her to be his girlfriend. This is her first boyfriend and she is 13 almost 14.
She radiated joy. Her smile was so deep and precocious, so powerful and infectious, I could not help but to share in her overwhelming, nervous, butterfly filled, giddiness.
She's gonna kill me when she reads this. That makes me smile.
What's so damn funny, the truth beneath the perceived experience of life! The light that is amidst the experience of, "How am I gonna get through this?" The perfection of each and every moment that become apparent to you when connect your spirit to it in oneness.
Despite the trying times and burdens of adulthood, we must begin to practice the inward smile. Like all practice of Combat Yoga (read: Predicament) if you can smile with your whole being, if you can laugh out loud at the absurdity of the stress and chortle and guffaw at the dizzy scramble that surrounds us all, if you can touch the smile even then... when times are calm and gentle, your smile will be perfected.
So practice now. Practice when the dragons are out of their caves. Practice when the chips are down. Practice when there is nothing left to do but fret.
HOW to practice:
1. Listen to/watch comedies.
2. Listen to tapes of people laughing
3. Go to YouTube and put in, "Laughing Baby" I dare you to not laugh.
But most of all, be conscious when you begin to choose anything but a smile in the face of conflict. Recognize that you are choosing and follow the path of that choice inward until you find the deep trauma, the old hurt, the baggage, the story, the crap, the wound...
...and then just smile. Even a smirk counts.
The Kids Warrior Camp dates for North America are:
June 24-27 in Colorado. To register or learn more go to:
http://www.firemountainpro
There's a movie there that will make you smile.
To your laughter,
Aaron
Focus your smile on the eyes first, then the chest, relaxing it and then relaxing the belly.
